Thompson: Reluctant to see another Bush at helm

Floridians are worried about their favorite son presidential candidate, former governor Jeb Bush (Adam C. Smith, “Is Bush up for a fight? He needs to turn the tables on bully Trump or risk a repeat of 1994,” Tampa Bay Times, September 5, 2015, p. 1.) I am worried about Jeb, too. Could he actually become Bush III?

I hasten to admit equal concerns about other candidates. Can you truly get your mind around this two-word phrase — President Trump? Moreover, would you really vote for a person, man or woman, who pooh-poohs a cardinal principle of organizational protocol — keep personal and business communications separate?

It’s just that I know Jeb better than I know Donald and Hillary, because I was a Florida resident during the time Jeb was active in Florida politics. Some of Jeb’s shenanigans made national news. Let’s not rehash the 2000 presidential election. That is water, and possibly a few sacks of votes, under the bridge. Rather, allow me to make you aware of three scary incidents that barely got reported.

First, return with me to those thrilling days of yesteryear. It is election night, 1994. Computers were in their infancy. Watch night parties were more fun because winners could not be projected early in the evening.

Young Jeb Bush was expected to become governor by winning in a landslide over incumbent Lawton Chiles. However, the wily Chiles — known as the Ol’ He-Coon — won re-election. Here is the point. Jeb conceded the election about thirty minutes after the polls closed! I remember thinking, “This is scary; Jeb has something on his computer that none of the rest of us have.”

Fast forward to today. Surveillance is a huge issue. I wonder what Jeb has on his computer.

Shortly after he was elected governor in 1998, Jeb toured the state by bus on a trip billed as an effort to get in touch with Floridians. Upon his return Jeb reported to an interviewer, “We talked to a lot of people but we didn’t learn anything.” Between the lines, does that not mean, “We knew what we were going to do before we went and only created the illusion of input?”

Finally — this is the one that bugs me most — popular local newscasters of the day, Bob Heit and Gail Sierens, playfully reported a gubernatorial gaff. Governor Bush’s office released a picture of Jeb prematurely signing a bill into law. Because of conflicting engagements on his schedule, the governor moved the photo op bill signing ahead of the legislature’s vote.

These happenings arguably reveal a nearly uncontrolled willingness to deceive. Deception is an accepted part of football and politics. However — are you aware —some football penalties involve excessive deception.

The willingness to deceive seems too deeply ingrained in the Bush DNA to make me want to once again be governed by a Bush.

Richard E. Thompson is a former regular contributor to the Springfield News-Leader. He currently lives in Florida.